Notes
Riva Farewell Weekend in full effect!
Chico lined up el bandito style (waiting for the surly old men to pull me out for having no race number) on a chilly windy morning for the Niseko Town Half Marathon with Coach and Diggler. Hard to strip down to race gear because of the cold - wind pushing trees sideways, tough to get keen...
Started at the very back of the pack and mellowed into the race with a slow 6min+ first km. After that, left Reev to his joints and started the best overtake run ever...
Really tough course - lots of steeps, lots longer and steeper than I expected, and always seemed to be running head-on into that brutal wind. Longest hill from 8k to 14k was straight up the mountain, from the river up through the farms, to near Annupuri.
First 10k felt horrible, breathing hard, knee pain, tired from a tough training week. Took about 10k to find any kind of rhythm. Finally found something after a walk at the 10k water station and stopped checking the watch and just clipped along up the mountain pretty comfortably.
Almost vomited at the final steeeep kick at 18k, but focussed on good rhythm and stayed strong all the way to the end.
Happy with how it all went - didn't melt, stayed strong and enjoyed the views.
First half marathon since Biei 2005! I'm keen to try a fast course to see what could be done... Need a break tho, my knee is on fire and swollen like a mofo today.
Negative split that sucka!
10k: 47'30"
20k: 45'58"
21k: 4'33"